A man has contacted police to explain how a dead badger ended up in a north-east Essex ditch with a rope around its neck.

Essex Police issued an appeal after the female mammal was found in a ditch off Golden Lane in Thorpe-le-Soken shortly after 11am on Saturday.

As a result of media appeals, a man contacted police on this afternoon and said that he had found the badger dead on a field. He had been cutting the grass and reeds when he found it and then dragged it out using a rope around the animal’s neck.

At this stage, police are still unsure how the animal died and so will continue with their attempts to ascertain its cause of death. They will maintain their liaison with the RSPCA.

Officers are still looking to speak with anyone who saw any suspicious activity at the junction of the B1033 Colchester Road and Golden Lane between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Anyone with information in connection with this badger death is urged to contact Essex Police’s Wildlife Crime Office on 101 or email wildlife@essex.pnn.police.uk